Igniter.



P. BROWN.

1 IGNITER. APPLICATION FILED APR-9.19M.

1,300,922. Patented Apr. 15,1919.-

1 a SHEETSISHEET 1.

IN V EN TOR.

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P. BROWN.

IGNITER APPLICATION FILED APR. 9. 19]].

Patented Apr. 15,1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

IN V EN TOR. P/wvs Brawn A TTORNE YS.

ig-w WITNESSES: Z0. Q9 644 P. BROWN.

IGNITER. 7 APPLICATION FILED APR. 9. 19!].

1 ,300,922. Patented Apr. 15, 1919.

3 SH EETSSHEET 3- Egg-J1.

IN VEN TOR.

WITNESSES: I h BY Pfidw 57001774 A TTORNE YS.

STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PHELPS BBQWN, F SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS;

rem'rnn.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 15, 1919.

Application filed April 9, 1917. Serial No. 160,892.

To all whom it may concern:

, Be it known that I, PHELPS .Bnown, a

citizen'of the United States of America, re} siding' at Springfield, inthe county of Hampden and State of- Massachusetts,thave invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Igniters, of which, the following is a.Specification. r

This invention relates to igniters and more particularlyto high speedigniters of the 'reciprocatory armature type.

Igniters of this type are particularly de-- sirable in that sharp andrapid variations in' the magnetic flux may be produced in the generatingcoils as distinguished from the -gradual variations producedbyoscillatory or rotary armatures. They are furthermore advantageous inigniters for explosive engines for the reasonthat the speed of thearmature may readily be made independent of that of-the engine and madeconstant irrespective of fluctuations in engine speed so that aconstantelectromotive force may be generated at all engine speeds which is adesirable condition especially on starting.

- Although 'igniters of thereciprocatory. armature type are known anddesirable for the reasons outlined, considerable 'difliculty has beenhitherto experienced in providing an economical arrangement of thesources of magnetic flux. For example, in igniters wherein there is areversal of flux in the tages heretofore encountered.

generating coils, it has been heretofore thought necessary to employ twosources, usually permanent magnets, of relatively large size for thereason that the arrangement of magnets relatively to the cores .and

armatures'was such that flux was directed through the generating coilsfirst from one source and then from the other. The flux from each sourcein such devices could not be utilized at the same time for thegeneration of electricity, but 'on the contrary -1t was found necessaryto" alternately divert the.

flux from each-source in a shunt path outside the coils. This inventionis concerned with the provision of an improved lg'niterof thereciprocatory armature type, wherein a reversal-of flux through thegenerating coils may be obtained withoutthe disadvan- According to .onefeature of this invention, a new technical effect-is attained bysuddenly reciprocating two armatures and thereby successively reversingthe. 'dlrectlon .of flux through'the coils of the-generating windingsfrom one source of magnetism, and

this effect is characterized by the fact that the magnetic flux fromtheone source is utilized to the best advantage at all times sinceitsuccessively passes through a coil of the generating windings insuddenly reversed directions with respect to the latter at all timesinstead of being shunted as heretofore to avoid passing through thegenerating windings part of the time.

According to another feature of this invention a new technical effect isattained by the use of only two armatures by suddenly -reci rocating thelatter and thereby successiv y reverslng the direction of flux throughtwo generating coils from two separate sources of magnetism, and thiseffect is characterized by the cooperation of the-two armatures actingalternately with the cores'of the coils and-the sources of magnetism insuch a way that each of the latter contributes in the production-of aflux through both coils in one direction when one, arma-. ture isincontact with both cores and in the opposite direction when the otherarmature 1s incontact with both cores. According to one aspectof theinvention, the new technical effect may be attained in one way byconnecting the north pole of a permanent magnet to the end of a corewithnetic flux will be made.

According to another feature of the in-' v'ent ion ahigh speed igniterof the reciprocating armature type is provided by which an economicalarrangement and distribution of the sources of magnetlc flux withrelation to the armatures and the cores of the generating coils isattained, whereby the parts may be compacted into small compass andwherebv the parts, especially the moving parts, may be made relativelylight to permit high speed operation. 7

According to the stated features of the invention in connection withpreferred em= bodiment to bejdescribed, it will be apparent that theinvention may be embodied in various functional and constructional formsas may occur to those skilled in the art; for example, two armatures maybe used with a single source of magnetic flux or itv may be used withtwo sources of magnetic flux and 'so on, but all such variations, eachof which Fig. 3 is a plan view of Fig. 2 with partsbroken away Fig. 4 isa view similar to Fig. 3 with the upper armature removed;

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation taken on the line 66 of Fig.1;-

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of'the upper part of theigniter with certain parts removed to reveal structure therebelow;

Fig. 8 is a perspective vie-w of the reciprocable bar for operating thearmatures.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the upper armature;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the retaining' member for the upperarmature; and

Figs. 11 and 12 are diagrammatical views illustrative of the magneticcircuits which obtain at different periods in the operation ofv theigniter.

Various features of the invention in addition to those above describedwill appear in the detailed description with relation to the presentpreferred form.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to Fig. 6: Generatingwindings or coils 15 and 16 are employed which are electricallyconnected together in the usual manner by a wire 17 (Figs. 1 and 2). Theterminals of the connected coils consist of wires 18 and 19, one ofwhich, for example, the terminal 18, may be grounded in'any suitablemanner to the frame of the machine. Coils 15 and 16 are mounted on cores20 and 21, respectively, as shown in Fig. 6, and these cores preferablyconsist of a plurality of thin soft iron laminations, as best indicatedin Figs. 4 and 7, which are built up in the usual manner to form coresof the desired cross sectional shape and area.

Referring to Figs. 4 and 7, closely adjacent. the upper end of each core20 and 21 are corresponding blocks 22 and 23 formed with flanges 2st and25, respectively, which,

when fitted together in substantially abutting relation, as shown,encompass the upper ends of the cores upon three sides. Blocks 22 and 23are of suitable magnetic material, and the former are somewhat longerthan the latter for a reason to appear. The blocks 22 and 23 for core 21are reversely arranged from those for core 20, and a plate 26 ofsuitable non-magnetic material extends from each block 22 to a. block23. The plates 26 are shouldered down to receive the flanges 24. and andconstitute spacing members to hold the blocks and thus the cores in thedesired spaced relation. Bolts 27 (Figs. 5 and 6) connect the ends ofboth plates 26 together and each bolt passes through both plates, theflanges 24 and '25, v and the core therebetween. Thus, the laminatedends of each core may be compressed and tightly clamped between theflanges 24 and 25. p

The lowerends of the cores 20 and 21 arespaced one from'another and areclamped together in a manner identical with that described. Theimportant feature to note, however, is that the blocks 22 and 23 for thelower end of each core are reversely arranged from the blocks 22 and 23thereabove for the corresponding upper ends of the core, as will be seenfrom Figs. 1 and 6. A rectangular bar 28 is secured at one end by ascrew 29 (Fig. 1) to each of the long blocks 22 and is magneticallyconnected thereto, the screw 29 being preferably also of magneticmaterial. The several bars 28 are arranged in parallel relation witheach other and with the clamping plates 26. It will thus be seen thatthe other end of each bar 28 is spaced. from a short block 23. A block30 of non magnetic material is used as a means of closing the physicalgap between each block 23 and bar 28, thereby magnetically separatingblocks 23 from. bar 28. Bars 28 are held to blocks 23 by screws 31(Fig. 1) which pass through spacer blocks 30 but which screws 3-1, it isto be particularly noted, are of non-magnetic material. One upper bar 28is connected to the bar 28 vertically therebelow by a bank of permanentmagnets 32 (Figs. 1 and 5) and the upper and lower bars 28 on the otherside of the machine are connected together by a similar bank ofpermanent magnets 33. r The magnets 32 are, however, reversely arrangedfrom the magnets 33 with respect to their polarity, the north pole ofthe former being at the bottom and the north pole of the latter being atthe top of the machine. The magnets of each bank are arranged side byside in parallel and substantially contiguous relation, thereby forminga complete closure for the front and rear sides of the machine. The endsof each bank of magnets are received in U-sh-aPed clips 34, of magneticand preferably of spring metal, and each clip 34 is held to a'bar 28 bya plurality of screws 35 which pass through both legs ofithe clip andarethreladed into the bar 28 as clearly.

shown in Figs. 1 and 5. ,Each end of each magnet is thus firmly clampedto a bar 28 and is also magnetically connected thereto. It is to benoted, however, that.- none of the screws 35 enter the blocks 23.

Each of the described clamping plates 26 has centrally formed on itsinner surface a recess 36 (Fig. 6), whereby vertically alinedslidewaysare formed by the upper and lower pairsof plates to receive areciprocable bar 37. The latter, as clearly shown in Figs. 6

tively. Each armature is built up of a plurality of soft ironlaminations which are clamped together by bolts 42. The heads and nutsof each pair of the latter are spaced apart just sufliciently to looselyreceive therebetween the bar 37, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, whereby thearmatureis prevented ffrom'longitudinal displacement relatively to thebar. The laminations of armature 4O are still further clamped byrivets43 for this armature is relatively long in order to connect the upperends of cores 20 and 21.

The lower ends of the latter are brought inwardly toward one another, asclearly shown in Fig. 6, so that the armature 41 need not be as long asarmature 40 and does not, therefore, require rivets 43 as the bolts 42are sufficient for clamping purposes.

Secured to each of the upper blocks 22 by screws 44 and spanning thedistance therebetween is a strap plate 45, which is bent in the shapeshown in Fig. 10 so that its central portion overlies and is spacedabove the armature 40., The ends of plate 45 are provided withoppositely extending slots 46 to receive screws 44, whereby, when thelatter are loosened, plate 45 can quickly be removed therefrom by aslight twist sufiicient to remove the ends of the plate from the screws.disk 47 (Figs. 2 and 6) having a point'to enter a central prick punchmark on armature 40 rests upon the latter and relatively strong springs48 (in this instance, two concentrically arranged springs) areinterposed between the disk and the lower face of plate 45. Springs 48tend to force armature 4O downwardly .so that its ends engage the upperends of the cores 20 and 21.

Secured to the lower blocks 22 in a similar manner is a similarly formedplate 49 shown. A disk 51 similar to the described disk 47 is applied tothe lower face of arma-. ture 41 and is held thereto by a sprin 52 which.seats, as shown in Fig. 6, on p ate- 49. Spring'52 tends to forcearmature 41 upwardly so that its ends will if not prevented, engage thelower ends of cores 20 and 21. Y

The structure described-is a complete selfcontained'unit which may bemounted to cooperate with any suitable mechanism to reclprocate bar 37.One operable mechanism to accomplish this function is shown in Figs. 5and 6- inerely for the purposes of illustration. This mechanismcomprises a cam b suitably fixed to a shaft 0 which is rotatablysupported in a casing A. The

latter has an opening in its upper face toreceive'the plate 49, armature41, and their connecting parts, and the plates 50 rest upon the uppersurface of casing A and are re-' movably secured thereto as stated. Cam6, as shown in Fig. 5 underlies and supports the lower end of. thedescribed member 39 and, when rotated in the directionof the arrow, willgradually raise bar 37 and allow it to sharply fall twice during eachrevolu 'tion of shaftb. The latter may be drivenin any suitable mannerand at any desired speed by' means which do not concern the presentinvention.

In operation shaft 0, being driven at the appropriate speed,intermittently raises bar 37, and the latter raises armature 40 awayfrom the upper ends of cores 20 and 21 I againstthe force exerted bysprings 48. As

the bar rises, armature 41 is moved to engage and magnetically connectthe lower ends of cores'20' and 21 the armature .hav-

ing just prior thereto been held away by the bar 37 whichis somewhatlonger, in respect to the distance between the bottoms of slots 38, thanthe cores 20 and 21. Onfurther movement, cam 17 releases the member 39and allows armature 40 to be forced sharply downward by the springs 48into engagement with "the upper ends of cores 20 and 21 13.211137 isalso forced sharply downward by armature 40 to forcibly disengage -thearmature 41 from the lower ends of ner which will now be described.Considering first the bank of magnets 32Lthe upperends thereof (in thisinstanc'gof south polarity). are magnetically connected to one upper bar28 (that to the right of Fig. 1),

and the latter is magnetically connected to block 22 which inturn ismagnetically connected to the upper end of ,core 20. The south poles ofthesemagnets are magneti cally separated from the upper ends of magnets33 and core 21 by the two upper blocks 30 of non-magnetic material. Thelower ends of magnets 32 (of north polarity) are magnetically connectedto the lower end of core 21 and are magnetically separatedfrom the lowerend of core in a like manner .by the lower blocks 30. '1

Thus, for the purposes of illustrating the features of the invention,the several magnets 32 may be considered as a single magnet whichextends diagonally to connect the upper end ofcore 20 to the lower endof core 21, as shown diagrammatically in Figs. 11 and 12.

Considering the bank of magnets 33, the upper ends thereof are of northpolarity and are magnetically connected by the upper bar 28 (as viewedin Fig. 4') and right hand block 22 to the upper end of core 21 and aremagnetically separated from the upper ends of core 20 and magnets 32 bythe two nonmagnetic blocks 30. The lower ends of magnets 33, of southpolarity, are similarly connected to the lower end of core 20 and aresimilarly separated magnetically from the lower end of core 21. I

. Thps, the several magnets 33 may be considered as one magnet whichextends diagonally and magnetically connects the upper end of core 21 tothe lower end of core 20, as illustratedin the background of'Figs. 11and 12. I

The variations in magnetic flux through cores 20 and 21 to generateelectricity in 4 coils 15 and 16 will best be understood by reference tothe diagrams shown in Figs. 11

and 12.. The poles of magnets 32 and the circuits of flux therefrom areindicated by full letters and lines, respectively, and the poles ofmagnets 33 and the circuits of flux therefrom are indicated by dottedletters and lines, respectively.

- Referring to Fig. 11, when armature 40' is positioned as there shown,flux flows from the north pole of magnet 32 upwardly through core 21across armature 40 to the south poleof the magnet. Flux from the northpole of magnet 33 passes through ar-' mature 40, and downwardly throughcore 20 to the south pole of the magnet. The magnetic circuits describedeflect'the same result as if a single magnet, for example,

a horseshoe magnet, were used in which the north and south poles were"connected 1'6,- spectively to the lower ends of cores 21 and 20. Thus,the result is that two. magnetic circuits from separate sourcescooperate'to produce in efl 'ect one continuous circuit which encirclesboth coils 15 and 16.

Referring to. Fig. 12, when the armatures 40 and 41 are positioned asthere shown, the flux from the north pole of magnet 3-2 passes througharmature 41 and upwardly through core 20 to the south pole of themagnet. Flux from the north pole of magnet 33 passes downwardly throughcore 21 and across armature 41 to the south pole of the .magnet.

The circuits thus produced from separate sources areanalogous to asingle magnetic circuit from .a single magnetic source, such as ahorseshoe magnet, for example, in which'the north and south poles arerespectively connected to the upper ends of cores 21' and 20respectively.

The use of horseshoe magnets arranged as described would not, however,permit the desired beneficial results to be obtained for 'it will beobvious that only one magnet through the winding which comprises both 7coils 15 and 16. There is, therefore, no shunting of the flux fromeither source to exclude it from the cores. Obviously, therefore, thetotal cross sectional area of the magnets 32 and 33 need be only halfthat heretofore necessary when two sources, alternately shunted asdescribed, we're used, assuming like characteristics of magneticmaterial and like degrees of saturation. Thus, the invention ischaracterized in one of its features by economy of material from whichfollows reduced cost of manufacture,- reduced weight and thatcompactness of parts desirable in high speed machines.

It has been seen that bar37 is reciprocable to alternately raise' andlower each armature.

As the bar is raised, the circuits shown in Fig.-12 are graduallyestablished and shortly thereafter the bar is sharply lowered, and the.circuits shown in Fig. 11 are quickly established while the circuitsshown in Fig.

12 are quickly interrupted. -The flux from each magnet always passesthrong the cores in the same direction, but the flux is shiftedalternately from one core to the other. The flux from magnet 32 passesalternately through cores 20 and 21, but in' an upward directiontherethrough in each instance. Likewise, the flux from magnet 33 passesalternately through cores 20 and 21 in .a

downward direction. It will thus be seen that a change'fromtheconditions-illustrated in Fig. 12 to'those in Fig. 11 will efi'ect areduce the inertia resistance.

,tures.

reversal of flux and consequently a variation of magnetic lines of forceof double the variobtained by the described economical are rangement ofa relatively small amount of material which is one of the importantfeatures of the invention.

The invention is capable of particularly advantageous embodiment in highspeed igniters. While inall igniters, the economical use of materialsand compactness of parts is a desirable criterion, in highspeed-igniters, it, is'especially important to secure lightness ofparts, particularly the movable parts. For example, the bar 37 andarmatures 40 and-41 should be made as light as possible-to The advantageof the present arrangement lies in the reduction in length of thearmatures by the close assembly of the coils 15 and 16 per" mitted bythe relatively thin bar 37 therebetween which is yet strong enough tofunction with the weight of the parts necessary to move, and moreparticularly in the re duction in cross sectional area of the arma- Thelatter advantage follows from the fact that the armatures are notemployed as heretofore, for the dual function of leading flux from onesource through the cores and of simultaneously shunting the flux fromthe other source across its pole pieces. The total flux from all themagnets 32 and 33 being only substantially half that of a single sourceheretofore used, the cross sectional area of each armature may bereproportion for a given degree of saturation.

Thus, an improved igniter of the reciprocating dual arm'ature type hasbeen provided which is characterized by the utilization of all the fluxfrom all the magnetic sources in the generation of intermittentcurrentsofelectricity and by an economical arrangement of parts particularlyadvantageous for high speed igniters of this .type.

Very many variations from the form of invention described and preferredmay be made without. departing from all the features of the inventionwhich are new. For example, one bank of magnets as 32 may be removed andthe apparatus will still function to advantage in generating desiredcurrents, but the form shown with bothsets of magnetsj32 and 33 ispreferred- So other changes could be made all of which" need not bepointed out'in thisspecification but are intended to be properlyincluded with "the invention in its various aspects.

What IcIaim is' 1; A machine for generating electrical currentscomprising two coils having each a of magnetic flux, and two :armatureseach arranged to be moved into core of magnetic material therein, apermanent magnet connected at one end with one core end and at the otherend with an end of the other core, and reciprocable means operablealternately to first magnetically connect said end of the one core withthe opposite end of the other core and then magnetically connect thefirst mentioned end of the last-named core with that end of theothercore not connected to said magnet.

52.- An igniter, comprising in combination, generating coilselectrically connected in series to form a single Winding, two cores forsaid coils, reciprocable means operable alternately at opposite ends ofthe cores to magnetically connect and disconnect the latter, and twosources of magnetic flux magnetically connected to said cores so thatwhen the cores are connected at one end, each source contributes inproducing a flux through said winding in one direction and when theother ends of the cores are connected each source contributesinproducing a flux through'said winding in an opposite direction. 3. Anigniter, comprising in combination, generating coils, cores therefor, asource of magnetic flux and two reciprocable armatures cocperatingwithsaid source and cores ,to alternately direct the flux from thesource through one and then the other of said cores. 4. An igniter,comprising in combination,

generating coils, a source of magnetic flux, a

reciprocable armature arranged to alternately establish and interrupt amagnetic circuit from said source through one of said coils and a secondreciprocable armature arand out of contact with the cores and tocooperate alternately with the cores so as to shift the flux from each.source, first through one and then the other of said cores.

6. An igniter, comprising in combination, generating coils, corestherefor, two sources ciprocating and out of contact with the cores andto cooperate alternately with the cores, so as to shift the flux fromeach source, first through one and then through the other of said cores,and so that flux passes through both of said cores when either armatureis incontact therewith.

7. An igniter, comprising in combination, two generating coil's, corestherefor, two rearmatures each arranged to be moved into 7 moved intoand out of contact with the cores, two sources of magnetic flux arrangedto produce flux in opposite directions through either core, saidarmatures arranged to cooperate with the cores alter nately so that fluxfrom one source passes through one core \vhile flux from the othersource passes through the other core and so that flux from each sourceis alternately shifted from one to the other of said cores.

8. An igniter, comprising in combination, two generating oils, corestherefor, a source of magnetic flux, and two reciprocating armatures,each arranged alternately to be moved into and out of contact withthecores so as to alternately shift the fiux from one source through thefirst and then through the second of said cores and so as tosimultaneously shift the flux from the other source through the secondand then through the first-named core.

9. An igniter, comprising in combination, generating coils, two sourcesof magnetic flux, a reciprocable armature arranged to alternatelyestablish and interrupt a magnetic circuit from one source through oneof said coils and from the other source through the other of said coils,and a second reciprocable armature arranged to simultaneously shift theflux from each source through the core theretofore connected to theother sourcewhen the first-named armature interrupts its respectivecircuits.

10. An ignlter, comprlsmg 1n combination, tWo generatmg colls," corestherefor,

two sources of magnetic flux adapted to pro-' duce flux in oppositedirections, a reciprocable armature arranged to alternately establishand interrupt magnetic circuits so that flux from one source passsesthrough one core in one direction and so that flux from the other sourcepasses through the other core in an opposite direction, and a secondreciprocable armature operablewhen the first-named circuits areinterrupted to simultaneously shift the flux from each. source throughthe core theretofore connected to the other source.

11. An igniter, comprising in combinasource of magnetic flux having oneof its poles magnetlcally connected to one end of one of said cores andits other pole to the opposite end of the other core, a second source ofmagnetic flux having one of Its poles magnetically connected to theother end of the first-named core and its other pole to the opposite endof the second core,

and a reciprocable armature adapted to magnetically connect anddlsconnect the cores at oneend, a second reciprocable armature adaptedto disconnect and magnetically connect the opposite ends of said cores,and means to reclprocate sald armatures so that ,each acts alternatelyto connect and dis- 50 tion, two'generati'ng coils, cores therefore, a

